"Roshni?" She heard a voice behind her which was very familiar

Standing up she turned to see the owner of the voice, her brows furrowed

"Sh... Shoib?" She tried to remember his name then said still not sure

"Aap yaha Kya Kar rahi Hain?" He came forward and asked,

(What are you doing here?)

"Woh hum Rohail ko dhoond rahe the....." She said as she looked around her as if she will find Rohail like that

(I was searching for Rohail,)

"Roahil?...." Shoib asked

"Aap jante Hai Rohail kaha Hain?" His voice said he knows so

(You know where he is?)

"I saw him leaving with Ella, I didn't know you were with him," Shoib said feeling bad for her

"Oh!" That's all she could manage to say,

"Thanks for telling," she started walking to leave the hallway,

"Roshni! Roshni! Kaha jaa rahi Hain aap?" He ran after her and come to road where she was just stopped

(Where are you going?)

"Ghar!" Her reply was short because she know if she will speak she will cry

(Home,)

"Main apko drop Kar deta hoon,"

(I'll drop you,)

"Shukriya! Par hum chale jayenge,"

(Thanks! But I'll manage,)

"Kaise jayengi aap? Rohail apni car se gaya Hai," she looked around and realized she need his help because she didn't took money with her

(How? Rohail has took his car with him,)

She nod her head and gesture him to walk, they both started walking to parking lot

He stopped the car in front of her car

She quickly got down and walked to the door he waited until she get inside but after few minutes passed he still saw her outside of the door searching for something in her clutches

"Kya hua Roshni?" He get down from his car and asked

(What happened?)

"Keys.... I couldn't find keys.... Roahil locked the door and....." That's all she manage to say as she was searching for keys then she looked at him

"Toh?" He asked

(Now?)

Roshni looked at the locked door then at him, not knowing where or what do to

It was the coldest night of December and she couldn't wait for Rohail on the doorstep when she didn't even know when he will return

"Roshni aap mere Ghar chaliye," Shoib looked at the locked door and suggested

(Come with me to my home,)

"Nahi! Theek Hai, Rohail atey hi honge," she quickly refused, he was a na-mehram and she wouldn't go to his house

(No! It's okay Rohail must be coming,)

"Kise behlane ki koshish Kar rahi Hain?" He asked

Looking at the weather which looked like it will snowfall any time Roshni knew she will probably freeze herself if she stayed more then five minutes here

(Who you are trying to fool?)

He opened his door and switch on the light, it was an two bedroom apartment

"Please! Sit," he pointed at the couch which was in living room and went somewhere

She wasn't paying attention where he went and started recalling her life

Just in one year of marriage Rohail has made her do many things that she never imagined

Like she will stay at a complete stranger house for a night in this cold weather where her husband will be with his mistress

"Roshni!" She looked up when she heard a voice then realized a tear fall on her cheek

Quickly bowing her head down she wiped her tears

"Water," he sat beside her and and gave her water

Taking it from him she scoot away

"So?....." Roshni raised her head to see him

"I mean what will you do now?" He asked further

Roshni bowed her head and took a sip of the water

"Roshni! If Rohail doesn't care about your feelings then you shouldn't be bothered with his, frankly speaking I don't think he even have feelings for you otherwise woh Ella ke sath na hota abhi," he again scoot over making her again scoot away from him

He was telling her what she already knows, but still she was silently listening

(He wouldn't have be with Ella right now,)

"Roshni tum....." He placed his hand of her shoulder making her frightened

(You...)

Just how quickly he turned aap into tum

Removing his hand away she got up and sat on other sofa

"He is having affairs from your back, aur yeh aaj Kal nahi start hua college time se hai aur Shaadi ke baad bhi use continue rakha," Roshni looked at him trying to figure out if he is telling the truth

(He is in relationship with Ella since college,)

And from determination in his eyes her heart knew he is telling the truth

"Tum kyu iss rishte ka ehtram Kar rahi ho? Tum hi akele kyu iss rishte ko nibhao?"

(Why you are the only one who is trying to make this marriage work?)

"Thanks! I mean I'm thankful for you that you are helping me in this time but humare shohar hain, humrai shaadi hai, Hume pata Hai Kya karna hai," before he could talk any further Roshni interrupt him, not wanting to discuss her marriage life with him

(This is not my marriage and I know what I have to do,)

"Tumhe darr nahi lag raha? Anjaan sheher mein yun akele?" He asked raising his eyebrows

For one second her heart skipped a beat

(Aren't you scared being alone in a big city?)

"Darr kyu? Aap Haina, aap bilkul humare Bhai ki tarah hain,"

(Why should I be scared when you are with me? You are just like a brother to me,)

Whatever thought were coming in Shoib's mind got stunned

"Ji... Haan bilkul...." He cleared his throat

(Yeah!... I am...)

"Aap woh wala kamra use Kar sakti Hain, aur koi bhi zaroorat ho to uske samne wale kamre mein main hoon aur yeh kitchen hai aap yaha se kuch bhi le sakti Hain," he sarted saying an pointed around his apartment

(You can take that room and in front of it is my room if you need anything you can take from kitchen,)

"Thank you," Roshni didn't waited for another second and left

Laying on the bed she was awake, she didn't sleep even a blink

Thought of Rohail with Ella was disturbing her, didn't he for once thought about her? She turned to other side

A knock on the door made her sat up,

Standing up she went to door and opened it

"Breakfast karle'n toh main apko Ghar drop kar dunga," although she wasn't hungry but still didn't wanted to behave rudely to Shoib so she nod her head

(Let's have breakfast then I'll drop you,)

"Roshni!" The car stopped in front of her house when she was about to get down from it Shoib called her

"Main apko seriously yeh suggestion dunga ki iss relationship ko torr dijiye, aap bohot achhi Hain aur Rohail apko deserve nahi karta,"

(I'll suggest you to leave him because you are a really good girl and he doesn't deserve you,)

"Thank you for helping me last night," Roshni nod her head then get down

The cold air hit her face making her brought her hands on her arms and tighten her shawl

The road was covered with snow making the weather more cold and here Roshni was still in her gown with just a shawl wrapped around her which looked looked worn out as she has slept with them on

She was about to knock but the door was opened, pushing it more she entered the house and found Rohail sitting in living room

"Aagai?" He looked at her and sarcastically asked

(You came?)

"Thori derr aur ruk jati apne aashiq ke sath," he was still on the suit that he wore last night the difference was he blazer was missing a and his white shirt looked quit dirty

His hair was falling on his forehead, eyes red from lack of sleeping

"Achha? Aur aap kaha the Puri raat?" She wasn't in the mood of listening

(Where were you whole night?)

"Main kaha tha farq nahi padta tum kiske sath thi,"

(Doesn't matter where was I, with whop you were whole night?)

"Kyu farq nahi padta? Ella ke sath the aap puri raat aur zara sa bhi humara khayal nahi aya? Boliye aap ko ek baar bhi hunara rishta yaad nahi aya?" She was in the mood of telling everything making him understand his fault

(Why it doesn't matter? You were with Ella last night and not once think about me? Did our marriage mean nothing to you?)

"Aur tum? Tum kaha thi? Kiske sath guzari puri raat tumne? Kisi ke sath raat guzarna hi tha toh mere boss ke sath guzarti at least mujhe promotion mil....." He didn't get to complete his sentence because Roshni hand came to contact with his cheek

(And what about you? Where were you whole night?)

"Ghin arahi hai Hume, apse, apki baton se aur ussey zyada khudse, pata nahi kitni baar aap humare peeth piche us Ella ke sath the aur hum? Yaha apka intezar karte the, apki sari baaton ko berukhi ko hum nazar andaz Kar dete the lekin aur ab ilzaam bhi Hume pe lage? Nahi, ab hum yeh sab bardasht nahi karenge, Hume apke sath rehna hi nahi hai," that was last strock of her patience, she couldn't heard anything more, telling him her decision she was about to left the living room

(I'm disgust by your thinking, you are the one who cheated on me but still I'm getting all the blame? No now it's enough I don't want to stay with you,)

All things he has done to her started recalling in front of her

Forcing her to wear western clothes, took off her hijab

Always coming late but saying he had work late

Killing her baby

And now sleeping with another women

"Tumhare jaisi badkirdar aurat ke sath mujhe bhi nahi rehna, tum Kya mujhe chorogi main tumhe chorta hoon," he harshly grabbed her arms and pulled her to himself

(I also don't want to live with a characterless women like you,)

His man ego was hurt, being a girl how can Roshni leave him

He is the man he will make decisions

"Main tumhe talaq deta Hoon, talaq deta hoon, talaq deta hoon," throwing her away he didn't waited for another second and left the house

(I'm divorcing you,)

Getting up from the floor she rubbed her elbow where he hurt her but this was the last time and she was glad

Tears drop from her eyes but it wasn't due to sadness but relief,

_______

😬